Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told the club’s official website that morale and spirit remain high in the Alex camp despite us suffering two home defeats in a week.

A Leon Legge header gave Port Vale the bragging rights in the local derby and then Crewe were well beaten in the Checkatrade Trophy tie against an impressive Manchester City Under-21 side.

Ahead of this weekend’s trip to Notts County, Artell told crewealex.net: “The morale is good. There are no concerns with that. The players are training well and working hard and that is all you can ask.

“We have it in us. We have scored six goals and we have conceded six goals in the opening month of the season, so you never quite know what you will get.

He added: “I think the defending has vastly improved from last season. We have kept four clean-sheets and by and large the defending has been good. We have to become more threatening as a team and we have worked on that this week.”